Video startups clamour for Obama traffic with live streams

Tomorrow will be one heck of a day for social media as people live blog, Twitter and video the inauguration ceremony of US President-elect Barack Obama live from Washington. And any self-respecting startup will be trying to get their share of the “Obamania”.

Among those will be mobile video streaming pioneer Qik which has partnered with the BBC. They are asking anyone going to Washington to join their special inauguration channel. Videos which appear there may be used on BBC television or BBC News Online.

Meanwhile Joost, which appears to be flourishing now it has put its video on the web instead its abortive P2P service, will be showing live video courtesy of streaming partner EuroNews.